Adjustable roof assembly

ABSTRACT

A suspension-type roof assembly including means in to adjust the posture of the roof. This assembly comprises an umbrellalike arrangement of tapered roof members suspended between a primary support and a secondary support and having generally inverted Ushape lateral flanges extending longitudinally thereof and arranged to provide upwardly converging, tension-resisting ribs, and an adjusting ring disposed intermediately longitudinally of and in spaced relation with said ribs and including means operable to expand and contract said ring whereby to vary tension in the roof members longitudinally and transversely thereof ad so adjust the posture of the roof.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Samuel F. Kennedy 917-19 South Webster St., Taylorville, 111. 62568 [21] Appl. No. 6,756

[22] Filed Jun. 29, 1970 [45] Patented June 8, 1971 [54] ADJUSTABLE ROOF ASSEMBLY Primary Examiner-John E. Murtagh Assistant ExaminerSam D. Burke Attorney-label, Baker, York, & Jones ABSTRACT: A suspension-type roof assembly including means in to adjust the posture of the roof. This assembly comprises an umbrellalike arrangement of tapered roof members suspended between a primary support and a secondary support and having generally inverted U-shape lateral flanges extending longitudinally thereof and arranged to provide upwardly converging, tension-resisting ribs, and an adjusting ring disposed intermediately longitudinally of and in spaced relation with said ribs and including means operable to expand and contract said ring whereby to vary tension in the roof members longitudinally and transversely thereof ad so adjust the posture of the roof.

PATENTEUJUH 8|97| 3583112 SHEET 1 UP 3 PATENTED JUN 8 I9?! SHEET 3 0F 3 ADJUSTABLE ROOF ASSEMBLY The present invention differs from the prior art structures of US. Letters Fat. to McDougall No. 707,250 of Aug. I9, 1902, Bayley No. 1,826,378 of Oct. 6, 1931, Jones No. 2,175,468 of Oct. 10, I939, and Jamison No. 3,085,366 of Apr. 16, i963, in respect to essential features including the provision of tension-resisting ribs and the arrangement of the adjusting ring in relation thereto, enabling more efficient adjustment of the posture of the roof.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. I is a side elevation of an embodiment of my invention partially broken away;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. ll is an enlarged sectional view along the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view in perspective of certain components of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded detail view in perspective of other components of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view along the line 7-7 of F 1G. 11;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view, partially in section along the line 6-fl of F IG. 2; FIG. 9 is a detail view of a modification of the embodiment of FIG. ll.

DESCRIPTION An adjustable, umbrellalike roof assembly 10 for a grain storage structure 11, according to the embodiment of my invention schematically illustrated in FIGS. l-9, inclusive, of the accompanying drawings, includes a primary support in the form of a generally circular wall 12, a plurality of roof members suspended between the primary support and a secon dary support in the form ofa cap ring 30, a closure 40, and adjusting means 50 comprising an expansion joint 51 operable to expand and contract the ring thereby to vary tension longitudinally and transversely of the roof members.

Wall 12 and roof members 20 ordinarily are ofmore or less resilient material such as sheet metal; the latter, of generally channel shape, disposed at an angle of approximately 35 to the horizontal, tapered upwardly and provided with lateral, generally inverted U-shape flanges 2!, 21 extending longitudinally thereof. A depending transverse flange 22 is provided at the lower, relatively wide end 23 of roof members 20 and arranged to overlap the upper edge 13 of wall 12 of which it is suitably anchored (FIGS. 3, S), as by means of brackets I4, and bolts lib, I6.

The relatively narrow, upper ends 24 of roof members 20 converge toward and rest upon an angularly depending flange 31 extending peripherally of the lower edge of cap ring 30, to which they are suitably secured (FIG. 4), as by means of bolts 32. Opening 33 of cap ring 30 is covered by a closure 40, which is shown in the form ofa dome cap.

Roof members 20 are arranged side by side (FIGS. 5, 8), with adjacent flanges overlapping in opposed, nesting relation, and secured together by means of spaced bolts 25, suitable openings being provided in the flanges for the purpose, Flanges 21, 21 so arranged form ribs 26 upon which generally L-shaped brackets 26a are mounted, as by means of bolts 27 received in openings 26d therein and openings 28 in the flanges 211, 21. Brackets 26a are disposed approximately midway lengthwise of roof members 20 and have openings 29 for slidably receiving an adjusting ring 52 (FIGS. 4, 6, 8) forming a part of adjusting means 50.

Adjusting ring 52, as shown, comprises a plurality of segments 52a of pipe metal interconnected by expansion joints Ell. The latter include a link member Slla having threaded and unthreaded peripheral portions separated by a bead or collar 51c. Link member 51a preferably is of pipe form and of such outer diameter that the unthreaded portion 51d thereof may be shrunk into an adjacent end portion 52b of a segment 52a in fixed relation therewith and that the threaded end portion 51:: of link member 510 may be slidably received within an adjacent end portion of an adjoining segment 52a. An adjusting nut Sllb is threaded on link member 51a for adjustment therealong to force the adjacent segment 52a to a removed position in relation to the link member 51a (to the right, (FIGS. 6, 8) and thus expand adjusting ring 52.

Generally like adjustment will be made of all segments 52a correspondingly. The adjustment may, however, be selective as desired. Such adjustment of the expansion joints and correspondingly of adjusting ring 52 will lengthen and so expand ring 52 thereby tending to force corresponding brackets 26a and ribs 26 outwardly of the roof and to lift roof members 20. It will be readily appreciated that lifting effect of this operation is substantially enhanced by the spacing of the adjusting ring from roof members 20 enabled by the presence ofribs 26 and brackets 26a.

The stated expansion joint arrangement is made in the interest of economy of construction, and not as limiting the scope of my invention. Alternative arrangements, including various form of turnbuckle, will readily occur to an experienced mechanic.

It will be obvious that adjustment of adjusting nut 51b in the opposite direction to that above stated, that is, to the left (FIGS. 6, 8) will enable return of the segments and the adjusting ring to their previous position and corresponding modification of the posture of the roof.

Generally it is desirable upon having obtained suitable adjustment of the posture of a roof that such adjustments be maintained. This may be achieved by fixing link members 51a in adjusted position as by detent of suitable form; e.g., a setpin or screw (not shown).

Adjusting means 50 are designed to enable the overcoming of the deflection of a suspension-type roof (FIG. 7 dotted position A) to an intermediate or means position (B -FIG. 7), and to an extreme position (C --FIG. 7), as conditions warrant; the amount of adjustment depending on the dimensions of the structure and the conditions of load due to weather or other causes. As previously indicated, adjustment of the ring 52 in the manner stated will cause deflection correspondingly in the posture of the ribs 26 and the intermediate portions of roof members 20.

The modification of my invention shown in FIG. 9 includes a supplemental or auxiliary means 60. This is arranged on the under side of roof members 20 and is in all respect similar in form and operation to adjusting means 50, except that brackets 26b extend downwardly or inwardly of roof members 20; bolts 27 serving a corresponding purpose in either case. The modification of FIG. 9 ordinarily will be used only in structures in which the roof is likely to be subjected to pressure ofa higher order than is usually encountered.

The dimensions of brackets 26a and 26b and adjusting rings 52 and 62, and the number of segments and expansion joints associated therewith will in general be related to the dimensions of and the expected load to be borne by the roof. While a one-piece adjusting ring with a single expansion joint might do in some cases, the segmented type with a plurality of expansion joints is deemed preferably as more efficient, enabling better adjustment of roof posture.

It may be desirable in the case of a roof of large dimensions to have more than one adjusting means on either side of the roof, above and/or below. In that case they will be suitably spaced longitudinally of the roof members; otherwise similar in arrangement as in FIGS. 1-9, inclusive.

It will be understood that changes of form and structure including reversal of parts, substitution of equivalents, and other modifications, may be made without departing from the spirit, substance and scope of my invention.

lclaim:

1. An adjustable roof assembly comprising:

a. a primary support,

b. a secondary support in vertically spaced relation with said primary support,

c. a plurality of tapered roof members arranged side by side and having 1. relatively wide lower end portions anchored to said primary support,

2. relatively narrow upper end portions converging upon 5 said secondary support, and secured thereto,

3. angular, generally inverted U-shape flanges extending longitudinally along their lateral edges,

4. said flanges of adjacent roof members overlapping and secured together to form tension-resisting ribs, said roof members, said supports, and the parts associated therewith being conformed and arranged to provide an integrated umbrellalike roof,

d. means for adjusting the posture of said roof members in relation to said supports comprising, l5

1. at least one adjusting rib slidably mounted on said ribs and in adjustable spaced relation therewith and includmg 2. means operable to expand said adjusting ring whereby to vary tension in said roof members longitudinally and transversely thereof and so adjust the posture of the roof correspondingly, the parts being conformed and arranged to operate so that as the adjusting ring is expanded force is applied to the roof members opposing tension therein tending to cause deflection of the roof members.

2. The adjustable roof assembly defined in claim 1, in which the secondary support comprises a. a cap ring having an angularly depending peripheral flange upon which said upper end portions of said roof members are secured,

b. and said secondary support and said upper end portions of said roof members are conformed and arranged to provide an opening centrally of said roof,

c. and said assembly includes additionally a closure for said opening, said secondary support and the parts associated therewith being so conformed and arranged to operate in relation to the roofmembers, the primary support, the adjusting ring, and parts associated therewith, whereby to enable adjustment of the posture of the roof correspondingly as the adjusting ring is operated.

3. An adjustable roof assembly as defined in claim 1, in which the means for adjusting the posture of the roof comprises a. an adjusting ring including a plurality ofgenerally arcuate segments arranged end to end, and a plurality of expansion joints respectively interconnected adjacent ends of said segments, and

b. brackets mounted on said ribs approximately midway longitudinally thereof, and arranged to support said adjusting ring in slidable radially spaced relation with said roof members.

4. The adjustable roof assembly of claim 3, in which said brackets respectively have openings for receiving corresponding segments of said adjusting ring for sliding movement lengthwise of said segments while restricting movement thereof radially of said adjusting ring, said segments, said expansion joints, and said brackets being conformed and arranged to operate whereby, as the adjusting ring is expanded, force is applied to the roof members in opposition to tension therein tending to cause deflection thereof.

5. An adjustable roof assembly as defined in claim 1 in which the means operable to expand said adjusting ring comprise an expansion joint including means operable in one direction to expand said adjusting rig, and in an opposite direction to enable contraction ofsaid adjusting ring.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,583,112 Dated June 8, 1971 lnventorfi) Samuel F. Kennedy It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 1, column 3, line 16, "rib" should be --ring--.

Claim 5, column 4, penultimate line, "rig" should be --ring--.

Signed and sealed this 20th day of February 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM P010350 410-69) USCOMM-DC BO376-P59 9 U 5 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I9? 0-366-334 

1. An adjustable roof assembly comprising: a. a primary support, b. a secondary support in vertically spaced relation with said primary support, c. a plurality of tapered roof members arranged side by side and having
 1. relatively wide lower end portions anchored to said primary support,
 2. relatively narrow upper end portions converging upon said secondary support, and secured thereto,
 3. angular, generally inverted U-shape flanges extending longitudinally along their lateral edges,
 4. said flanges of adjacent roof members overlapping and secured together to form tension-resisting ribs, said roof members, said supports, and the parts associated therewith being conformed and arranged to provide an integrated umbrellalike roof, d. means for adjusting the posture of said roof members in relation to said supports comprising,
 1. at least one adjusting rib slidably mounted on said ribs and in adjustable spaced relation therewith and including
 2. means operable to expand said adjusting ring whereby to vary tension in said roof members longitudinally and transversely thereof and so adjust the posture of the roof correspondingly, the parts being conformed and arranged to operate so that as the adjusting ring is expanded force is applied to the roof members opposing tension therein tending to cause deflection of the roof members.
 2. relatively narrow upper end portions converging upon said secondary support, and secured thereto,
 2. The adjustable roof assembly defined in claim 1, in which the secondary support comprises a. a cap ring having an angularly depending peripheral flange upon which said upper end portions of said roof members are secured, b. and said secondary support and said upper end portions of said roof members are conformed and arranged to provide an opening centrally of said roof, c. and said assembly includes additionally a closure for said opening, said secondary support and the parts associated therewith being so conformed and arranged to operate in relation to the roof members, the primary support, the adjusting ring, and parts associated therewith, whereby to enable adjustment of the posture of the roof correspondingly as the adjusting ring is operated.
 2. means operable to expand said adjusting ring whereby to vary tension in said roof members longitudinally and transversely thereof and so adjust the posture of the roof correspondingly, the parts being conformed and arranged to operate so that as the adjusting ring is expanded force is applied to the roof members opposing tension therein tending to cause deflection of the roof members.
 3. An adjustable roof assembly as defined in claim 1, in which the means for adjusting the posture of the roof comprises a. an adjusting ring including a plurality of generally arcuate segments arranged end to end, and a plurality of expansion joints respectively interconnected adjacent ends of said segments, and b. brackets mounted on said ribs approximately midway longitudinally thereof, and arranged to support said adjusting ring in slidable radially spaced relation with said roof members.
 3. angular, generally inverted U-shape flanges extending longitudinally along their lateral edges,
 4. said flanges of adjacent roof members overlapping and secured together to form tension-resisting ribs, said roof members, said supports, and the parts associated therewith being conformed and arranged to provide an integrated umbrellalike roof, d. means for adjusting the posture of said roof members in relation to said supports comprising,
 4. The adjustable roof assembly of claim 3, in which said brackets respectively have openings for rEceiving corresponding segments of said adjusting ring for sliding movement lengthwise of said segments while restricting movement thereof radially of said adjusting ring, said segments, said expansion joints, and said brackets being conformed and arranged to operate whereby, as the adjusting ring is expanded, force is applied to the roof members in opposition to tension therein tending to cause deflection thereof.
 5. An adjustable roof assembly as defined in claim 1 in which the means operable to expand said adjusting ring comprise an expansion joint including means operable in one direction to expand said adjusting rig, and in an opposite direction to enable contraction of said adjusting ring. 